Electric steaming iron



Oct. 15, 1940. 1.. v. ECKSTEIN 2,218,322

ELECTRIC S TEAMING IRON Filed Feb. 23, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 1 1940- v. ECKSTEIN ELECTRIC STEAMING IRON Filed Feb. 23, 1939 2 Sheets-SheetZ Louis [[[clfiieiru Id al/Ill v Patented Oct. 15, 1,940 A. A

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A ELECTRIC STEAMING IRON Louis V. Eckstein, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Ernest F. Pohl, St. Louis, Mo.

Application February 23, 1939, Serial No. 258,104 15 Claims. (01. 38-77) The invention relates to electric steaming irons. inlet and a steam conducting means leading from An object of the present invention is to imthe said outlet in the pressing surface to and prove and simplify the construction of electric communicating with the combined water baflling steaming irons and materially reduce the cost andsteam collecting means to shield the inlet 5 of the manufacture thereof, and at the same end of the steam conducting means to prevent 5 time increase the strength, durability, and length splashing of water into the inlet end of the of life of electric steaming irons without linpairsteam conducting means and yet permit the flow ing the efllciency thereof. of steam through the latter.

A further object of the invention is to reduce It is still further designed to provide an electhe amount of material used in the manufacture tric steaming iron provided with a reservoir havof electric steaming irons and the amount of ing a relatively small steam chamber in its base labor required in such manufacture and thereby at the forward end thereof provided with an materially reduce the manufacturing cost of the opening leading to the pressing surface, there irons. being a steam pipe located within the reservoir Another object of the invention is to provide and at its lower end communicating with the an electric steaming iron which will be practisteam chamber and having its upper steam inlet cally fool-proof, and which will not burn out end disposed adjacent the top of the reservoir or otherwise be rendered inoperative should the above the normal level of water in the latter iron be left unattended with the current on and to conduct steam generated in the reservoir to no water in the reservoir, thereby practically said steam chamber with means provided in the $0 eliminating the necessity of rebuilding irons renupper portion of the steam space of the reserdered inoperative by reason of the aforesaid negvoir in spaced relation to the side walls of the lect thereof. latter for shielding the inlet end of the steam Another object of the invention is to provide pipe to prevent water splashing thereinto and a simple, inexpensive and efflcient means for which comprises a plurality of members includshielding the inlet end of the steam pipe which ing spaced substantially vertical parallel side conducts steam to the lower pressing surface of walls and a substantially vertical transversely the iron, which means will be adapted to permit disposed rear wall of a width less than the width said steam pipe to be located wholly within the of the reservoir and of a width substantially the water reservoir and take steam directly from same as the width of the shielding means, the the same without the use of a steam dome and shielding means having a steam inlet and the without permitting any water to enter the steam side walls of the shielding means being arranged pipe even should the iron be moved rapidly back on opposite sides of the steam inlet of the steam and forth in a longitudinal direction or even pipe and substantially parallel to and spaced sideWi e as m y be n ry or "desirable when from the side walls of the reservoir so as 'to pro- 85 ironing certain garments or fabrics. vide spaced substantially parallel steam spaces A further object of the invention is to provide on opposite sides of the shielding means therean electric ea iIOII Of s cha acter adaptbetween and the side walls of the reservoir and ed to afiord a uniform M of p p rly conso as to also provide a steam space between the 40 ditioned steam direct to the garment or other rear wall of the shielding means and the rear 40 fabric being ironed and Capable of pe t wall of the reservoir having communication with such articles to be ironed as rapidly as desired the said oppositely disposed steam spaces and without permitting drops of water getting in permitting the accumulation of steam between v n f steam in the s m p p nd unduly the rear wall of the shielding means and the Wetting garments d other fabrics and Without rear wall of the reservoir and between the side requiring any pre-dampening of the fabrics to walls of the shielding means and the side walls condition the same for ironing. of the reservoir.

A still further object of the invention is to With the above and other objects in view, the provide an electric steaming iron embodying, invention consists in the construction and novel among other characteristics, a hollow body concombination and arrangement of parts herein- 60 stituting a water reservoir having a pressing surafter fully described, illustrated in the accomface provided with an outlet and a steam colpanying drawings and pointed out in the claims lecting device or combined water baflling and hereto appended, it being understood that varisteam collecting means arranged in the steam ous changes in the form, proportion and minor space of the reservoir, provided with a steam details of construction, within the scope of the M from the spirit or sacrificing any of tages of the invention.

In the drawings:

the advan- Figure 1 isa perspective'view of the electricv tachable cover plate which closes the opening in the top of the body of the iron, and which carries a shield for protecting the inlet end 0 the steam pipe.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the electric steaming iron comprises in its construction a hollow body or easing I having the conventional form of a pressing iron body and consisting of a single casting of aluminum or other suitable material, and providing an interior water compartment or reservoir which is designed to contain a quantity of water to be converted into steam, the level of the water being indicated at 3 in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The top and bottom walls 4 and 5 and the side and rear end walls 8 and I of the hollow body of the pressing iron are formed integral with one another, thereby eliminating the packing and the fastening means which are necessary when the bottom of the body is constructed separate from the walls thereof and is detachably secured to the latter. Also by constructing the body of the pressing iron of a single casting the iron is rendered practically fool-proof and will not burn out and become inoperative should it be left with the current on and unattended and without any water in the water reservoir. This will practically eliminate the necessity of rebuilding pressing irons of this character which, due to the aforesaid neglect, had become leaky or otherwise inoperative.

The hollow body of the pressing iron is provided at the bottom with a shoe 8 preferably consisting of a gray iron casting and coated or plated to render it rust-proof, but any other suitable heat retaining metal, such as cast steel, may be employed in the construction of the shoe, which is provided with a lower pressing surface 9. g The shoe conforms to the configuration of the body of the pressing iron which fits snugly against the upper face of the shoe at the marginal edges thereof, and is secured to the same by bolts Ill extending through openings II in the bottom of the hollow body I and engaging threaded openings I2 in the shoe. The openings I2 of the shoe extend downwardly from the upper surface of the shoe and terminate short of the pressing surface thereof. Both the lower face of the bottom wall'5 of the body I and the upper face of the shoe 8 are correspondingly recessed to provide an intervening chamber I3 for the reception of an electric heating element I4 which is adapted to convert the water within the reservoir into steam. The lower face of the bottom wall 5 and the upper face of the shoe 8 are provided with annular bosses I5 and I6 which have around claims, may be resorted to without departing contacting surfaces ,to form a water-tight fitting Y surrounding the bolts I 8.

The bolts III are provided with enlarged heads I! having threaded sockets l8 for the reception of the lower threaded ends I! of screws or bolts 20 which pierce a cover plate 2| and secure the same over an opening 22' in the top wall 4 of the hollow body of the pressing iron. Washers 28 are interposed between the heads II of the bolts I0 and the upper face of .the bottom wall 5 of the hollow body, and when the bolts III are screwed tightly home, a water-tight joint or connection is provided so that there is no liability of leakage of any water from the reservoir into the compartment I2 which contains a heating unit I4.

The bolts or screws 20 are provided at their upper ends with heads 24 and washers 25 are interposed between the heads 24 of the screws or bolts 28 and the upper face of the cover plate 2| to form a water-tight connection or joint. Also a packing 28 of suitable material is interposed between the marginal portions of the cover plate 2| and the top wall 4 of the body of the pressing iron to prevent leakage of water from the reservoir or water compartment.

The electric heating unit I4 may be of any preferred construction and it conforms generally to the configuration of the base 8, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The heating unit receiving compartment formed by recessing the base of the lower face of the hollow body I terminates short of the front end of the pressing iron and the lower face of the bottom wall 5 and the upper face of the shoe 8 are recessed at the front end of the pressing iron to provide a tapering steam receiving chambe 21 of approximately'triangular form provided in its bottom wall with perforations 28 leading to the pressing surface of the shoe of the pressing iron for the discharge of steam at the pressing surface for dampening clothes and other fabrics being ironed.

A lower heat conducting plate 28 of brass or other suitable material, is interposed between the electric heating unit and the shoe and an 'upper heat conducting plate 30 of similar material is arranged directly above the electric heating unit. The heat conducting plates distribute the heat of the electric heating units substantially uniformly throughout the base of the pressing iron and eliminate hot spots.

A heat insulating element 8| of asbestos or other suitable material is arranged upon the upper heat conducting plate 3]! and a thin sheet or foil 32 of aluminum or other suitable material is arranged upon the insulating asbestos to cooperate with the same for shielding the bottom wall of the hollow body I of the pressing iron of the greater portion of the heat of the electric heating unit and for directing such heat downwardly for heating the shoe which constitutes the base of the pressing iron. The heating unit, the heat conducting plates and the insulating element and the foil which conform to the configuration of the compartment I3 fill the same and are apertured to receive the bosses I5 and I6 and sufllcient heat is afforded for converting the water within the hollow body into steam, and at the same time supplying a greater amount of heat tothe shoe that is obtained when the heat conducting plates and the insulating means are not employed.

This will enable the pressing surface of the pressing iron to be heated to the desired temthe aluminum body and for concentrating the heat upon the iron or steel shoe.

The fixed terminals 33' of the electric heating unit extend through the rear portion of the bottom of the hollow body I beyond the water reservoir or compartment and are located in a recess 34 formed in the exterior of the rear end of the body I, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. 1 1

Steam is conducted directly from the upper portion of the reservoir or water compartment Y ing iron and connected at its lower end 36 by a suitable coupling 31 to a nipple 38 which is threaded into an opening 39 in the top wall of the steam chamber 21. The bottom wall of the hollow body I forms the top wall of the front steam chamber 21 and the nipple is locked in the threaded opening 39 of the bottom wall 5 by a nut 40 which is located within a recess 4| in the lower face of the bottom wall 5.

The upper terminal portion 42 of the steam pipe 35 is bent at an angle and inclined upwardly and forwardly and terminates adjacent the lower face of the cover plate 2| which constitutes a portion of the top wall of the body I and in order to protect the inlet end 43 of the steam pipe 35 and prevent any water from entering the same and getting in advance of steam and being discharged from the perforations 28 and unduly wetting garments and other fabrics, the hollow body is provided at the top with a combined water bafiiing and steam collecting means open at the bottom and receiving the upper terminal portion 42 of the steam pipe 35 and composed of relatively short vertical baffles 44 and 45, depending from the top of the reservoir into the steam space thereof. The bafile 44 which is arranged in advance of and spaced from the baflie 45, is approximately U-shaped in horizontal section, being composed of a front transversely disposed baflle and integral side bafiles arranged at right angles to the front transverse baffle.-

The combined water baflling and steam collecting means is arranged at the upper portion' of the reservoir in the steam space thereof and in the embodiment of the invention, as shown for purposes of illustration, is composed of the closure or cover 2| and the bafiles 44-45, the latter being of a width readily insertible through the opening 22 in the top of the iron as the closure or cover 2| is placed over said opening. This combined water baffling and steam collecting device substantially surrounds the upper inlet end of the steam pipe and insures an effective baffling of the water in the reservoir as the iron is operated back and forth and protects and shields the inlet end of the steam pipe 35 from ingress of water thereinto and yet permits the steam collected in the combined device to readily enter the inlet end of the steam pipe.

The spacing of the front and rear substantially vertical bafiies from each other provides for a steam inlet in the form of the side openings 46 which are located in rear of the upnenterminal portion of the steam pipe and which extend from the top to the bottom of the bafiles and permit free access of steam to the upper end 43 of the steam pipe.

The splashing of the water within the hollow body due to the moving of the pressing iron backward and forward is reduced by means of a' transverse baflle 41 formed integral with the side walls of the hollow body and spaced from p the bottom wall to provide a, relatively large opening or passageway 48 between the lower edge of the bailie 41 and the bottom wall 5to provide a passageway for. water and also spaced from the top wall of the hollow body I to'provide a relatively small passageway or opening 49 for the passage of steam.

The transverse baffle 41 is located intermediate of the ends of the body I slightly in rear of the combined water baffling and steam collecting means and the top space or opening 49 will permit free passage of steam from the space in rear of the transverse bafile 41 to the space in front of the said batlie 41 and the relatively large opening 48 at the bottom of the baflle 41 will permit water to pass freely into the spacein rear of the baflle 41 should the pressing iron be set upon its heel or rear end. This will prevent any accidental fiooding of the steam pipe as the space in rear of the upper end of the steam pipe will be ample to take care of the water within the body I when the same is supplied with the proper amount of water indicated by the Water level 3 in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

When the iron is moved forwardly in the operation of ironing garments and other fabrics the water Within it will splash rearwardly against the front substantially vertical baflle 44 which will prevent any of the water from entering the inlet end of the steam pipe and when the pressing iron is moved in the opposite direction the baille 41 and the bafile 45 will operate to shield the steam pipe and prevent any water from passing into the open inlet end 43 of said pipe. Also the pressing iron may be moved rapidly sidewise and any splashing of the Water within it due to such sidewise movement will be prevented by the side portions of the front baffle 44 from entering the inlet end of the steam pipe. By the particular arrangement of the steam pipe and the protecting baflles the steam pipe may be located wholly within the water reservoir and steam may be taken directly from the water reservoir without providing the usual steam dome for preventing water from entering the pipe or other means for conducting steam to the pressing surface of the iron.

Also the particular arrangement of the steam pipe 35 and the protecting bailles results in the reduction of the amount of material necessary for or employed in the manufacture of the elec- 'tric steaming-iron, and the amount of work required in the manufacture of the electric steaming iron is materially reduced. This greatly lessens the cost of manufacturing the pressing iron.

The cover plate 2| is provided at its lower face adjacent the bafiles with bosses 50 and 5| which snugly fit the front and rear portions of the opening 22 in the top wall 4 of the hollow'body and the front and rear protecting baffles 44 and 45 are also preferably of a width to extend entirely across the opening 20 in the top wall 4, thereby providing a firm structure adapted to prevent any lateral or longitudinal movement of the cover plate on the top wall 4.

The pressing iron is provided with a handle 52 of conventional form and of .any suitable material secured to the top wall 4 of the body I by a front screw or bolt 53 and by a pair of spaced ings.

rear screws or bolts 54 arranged in recesses 55 and 58 of the front and rear portions of the handle and engaging threaded sockets 51 and 58 in the top wall which is preferably thickened at thesaid sockets. The front recess 55 is preferablycovered by a name plate 5'! suitably secured to the front portion of the handle.

The hollow body is provided with a filling orifice 58 which is normally closed by a screw plug 59 or other suitable closure.

The water chamber or reservoir is partially filled with water preferably to approximately the level indicated at 3 in Figs. 2 and 4 of the draw- Steam generated by the heating of the water is collected from the upper portion of the water reservoir by the aforesaid combined water baiiling and steam collecting means and passes therefrom through the upper inlet end of the steam pipe and downwardly through the pipe into the steam chamber 21 and is discharged at the pressing surface of the iron through the perforations, 28. v

The steam thus taken directly from the water reservoir is properly conditioned for ironing garments and other fabrics and the combined bafflng and steam collecting device which fits over theinlet end of the steam pipe prevents any water splashing into the open upper inlet end of the steam pipe and getting in advance of steam and being discharged through the perforations 28 of the shoe. The inlet end 43 of the steam pipe -42 is preferably located within the angle formed by thefront baflie 44 of the cover plate and beveled as shown so that the inlet end will be eflectually shielded from water splashing ment thereof.

The transverse baflie 41 which prevents excessive splashing of water within the water reservoir is located slightly in rear of the rear baflie 45 and there is suflicient space between the transverse baflle 41 and the rear wall 1 of the hollow body to accommodate the water within the water reservoir should the iron be set up on its heel so that there will be no liability of any flooding of the steam pipe when the iron is placed in such position. It will thus be seen that aside from the production of a durable and effective electric steaming iron that an essential feature of the invention resides in the provision of a steam collecting device or a combined water battling and steam collecting means disposed in the steam space of the reservoir of the iron for the reception of steam from the reservoir as the steam is generated therein and which is provided with means for draining water of condensation or water from said device or said means back into the reservoir while the steam is taken from the collecting deviceor combined water baflling and steam collecting means to the pressing surface of the iron.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body having a water reservoir having an opening in its top and provided with a lower pressing surface, a removable closure for said opening, means for heating water within the reservoir, a steam pipe for conducting steam from the reservoir to the pressing surface of the iron and having its inlet end located at the upper portion of the water-reservoir between the normal level of water therein and the top of the reservoir for taking steam from the reservoir and spaced, unconnected, substantially vertically disposed battles depending from said closure and substantially. surrounding the inlet end of the steam pipe in spaced relation thereto and arranged to prevent water from splashing into the same and having an opening or space between them to permit free passage of steam to the inlet end of the steam pipe and to prevent the trapping of water in the steam pipe.

2. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body having a water reservoir and provided with a lower pressing surface, means for heating water within the reservoir, a steam pipe for conducting steam to the pressing surface of the iron, said steam pipe having its inlet, end located at the upper portion of the water reservoir, and unconnected baflles. arranged in substantially an upright position and substantially surroundin the inlet endof the steam pipe to prevent water splashing into the same and having an opening or space between them forming a passageway for water and steam to permit free passage of steam to the steam pipe and to prevent trapping of water in the steam pipe.

3. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body having a water reservoir and provided with a lower pressing surface, means for heatin water within the reservoir, a steam pipe for conducting steam to the pressing surface of the man. said steam pipe having its inlet end located within the upper portion of the water reservoir. and

a shield substantially surrounding the inlet end of the steam pipe for preventing water from splashing into the same and comprising a front baflle composed of side portions and a front connecting portion and a separate rear baflle s aced from the front baille and cooperating with the latter to form side openings to permit free passage of steam to the inlet end of the steam pine and to prevent trapping of water.

4. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body having a water reservoir and provided with a lower pressing surface, means for heating water within the reservoir, a steam pipe for conducting steam from the reservoir to the pressing surface of the iron, said steam pipe being located within the reservoir and extending upwardly from the bottom thereof and having its inlet end located at the upper portion of the reservoir, and a plurality of substantially vertical baflles depending from the top of the reservoir and arranged substantially around the inlet endof the steam pipe and forming a shield for preventing waterfrom splashing into the inlet end of the steam pipe, said shield being open at the bottom and having a side opening to permit steam to pass freely to the inlet end of the steam pipe whereby steam is taken from the water reservoir.

5. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body forming a water reservoir and having a lower pressing surface, said body being provided at the top with an opening, a cover plate secured to the body for closing said opening and provided with relatively short substantially vertical bailles depending from the top of the water reservoir and forming a shield having an open bottom and provided with a side opening, means for heating water within the reservoir, and a steam pipe extending upward from the bottom of the water reservoir and communicating with the pressing surface of the iron for conducting steam to the pressing surface, said steam pipe extending into said shield and having its inlet end arranged within the same to prevent water from splashing into the inlet end and to permit free passage of steam to the steam pipe, whereby steam is taken from the water reservoir.

6. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body forming a water reservoir and provided at the top with an opening and having a pressing surface at the bottom, a cover plate'secured to the top of the hollow body and closing the said opening and provided with a depending shield extending through the said opening, said shield voir, and a steam pipe communicating with the pressing surface of the iron and extending upwardly within the reservoir and having its inlet end arranged within the said shield, the latter preventing water from splashing into the inlet end of the steam pipe and permitting steam to pass from the reservoir into said steam pipe.

7. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body having a water reservoir and provided with a lower pressing surface, means for heating water within the reservoir, a shield depending from the top of the reservoir and open at the bottom and composed of front and rear baiiies spaced apart to provide side openings, the front baflle having side portions and a connecting front portion and the rear baflle being transversely disposed, a transverse baiile located in rear of the shield and extending entirely across the hollow body and spaced from the bottom thereof to provide a relatively large opening for the passage of water and also having a relatively small intervening space between its upper edge and the top of the hollow body for the passage of steam, and a steam pipe communicating with the pressing surface of the iron and extending upwardly within the water reservoir and'having its inlet end arranged within the said shield whereby water is prevented from splashing into the inlet end of the steam pipe and steam is permitted to pass directly from the water reservoir into the steam pipe.

8. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body having a water reservoir and provided with a lower pressing surface having openings therein, means for heating water within the reservoir, a steam pipe located within the reservoir for conducting steam from the reservoir to the pressing surface for passage through said openings, said steam pipe having its inlet end bent and directed laterally upwardly and terminating adjacent the top of the hollow body, and a plurality of baflles located within the reservoir including a bafiie which is substantially U-shaped in cross section and between the sides of which the inlet end of the steam pipe is located to prevent splashing of water into the inlet end of the steam pipe incident to sidewise movement of the iron in use.

9. An electric steaming iron including a water reservoir provided with a perforated pressing surface, means for heating water within the reservoir, spaced unconnected baffles at the top of the reservoir, and a steam pipe leading from the perforated pressing surface and having its inlet end directed between said bafiies and directed upwardly to the top of the reservoir and terminating adjacent one of said baiiles to prevent splashing of water into the inlet end of the steam pipe but permitting passage of steam into the steam pipe.

10. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body having a water reservoir and provided with a pressing surface and steam discharge openings at the forward end thereof, a steam pipe located within the reservoir for conducting steam from the reservoir to said openings. said 'steam pipe extending from the forward end of the reservoir rearwardly and upwardly'and near its inlet end bent laterally and upwardly and terminating at the top of the reservoir; and spaced unconnected baflles in the reservoir betweenwhich the bent inlet end of the pipe extends and terminates to prevent water from splashing into thei'nlet end of the pipe, the space between the baflles permitting free passage of steam to the inlet end of the steam pipe. 1

I 11. An iron of the character described including a hollow body having a water reservoir and provided with a lower pressing surface, means for heating water within the reservoir, a steam pipe forconducting steam from the reservoir to the pressing surface of the iron; said steam pipe having its inlet end located in the upper portion of the reservoir, and'a shield for the steam pipe comprising front and rear substantially vertical baflles substantially surrounding the inlet end of the steam pipe, said shield being open at the bottom and the space between the baffles permitting free passage of steam to the inlet end of the steam'pipe and preventing the trapping of water in the steam pipe.

12. In an electric steaming iron including a water reservoir, heating means, and a'pressing surface having'a steam outlet; of a combined water bailiing and steam collecting means located interiorly of the reservoir at the upper portion thereof below the top wall of the latter and extending downwardly from the same into the reservoir and having a steam inlet and being of a length and width less than the length and width of the reservoir, and means within the reservoir and communicating with said combined water bailiing and steam collecting means at the upper portion thereof adjacent the top of the reservoir for conducting steam from the latter to the steam outlet of the pressing surface and having its inlet end located within and shielded by said combined water bailling and steam collecting means to prevent splashing of water into the inlet end of said steam conducting means.

13. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body constituting a water reservoir, a heating means, a pressing .surface for the hollow body having a steam outlet, the hollow body having an opening in its top, a cover plate for said opening, means formed integrally with and depending from said cover plate through said opening into the reservoir and with said cover plate constituting a combined water baiillng and steam collecting means arranged interiorly of the reservoir and having a steam inlet, said combined means being of a length and width less than the length and width of the reservoir, and a steam pipe having its inlet end projecting into said com bined water bathing and steam collecting means relatively small steam chamber in its base at the forward end thereof provided with an opening leading to the pressing surface, means for heating water in the reservoir to generate steam therein, a steam pipe located within the reservoir and at its lower end communicating with said steam chamber and having its upper steam inlet end disposed adjacent the top of the reservoir abovethe normal level of water in the latter so as to conduct steam generated in the reservoir to said steam chamber, and means in the upper portion of the reservoir in the steam space thereof and spaced from the side walls of the reservoir for shielding the inlet end of said pipe to prevent water splashing thereinto comprising members including spaced substantially vertically disposed parallel side walls and a substantially vertical transversely disposed rear wall of a width less than the width or the reservoir and of a width substantially the same as the space between said side walls of the shielding means, said'shielding means having a steam inlet, said side walls of shielding means communicating with said oppositely disposed steam spaces, permitting the accumulation of steam between the rear wall of the shielding means and the rear wall 01' the reservoir and between the side walls of the shielding means and the side walls of the reservoir.

15. In an electric steaming iron, a hollow body constituting a reservoir, a heating means, and a pressing surface having a steam outlet therein; of a steam collecting means in thereservoir at the upper portion thereof and extending downwardly from the top of the reservoir into the latter and being of a length and width less than the length and width of the reservoir, providing steam spaces on opposite sides thereof therebetween and the sides of the reservoir and provided with means for the ingress of steam thereinto and for the discharge of water of condensation or water therefrom, and a steam pipe having its lower and communicating with the steam outlet in the pressing surface and having its upper inlet end extending above the normal water level 01' the reservoir and into the steam collecting means and terminating therein in the upper portion thereof and shielded thereby from the splashing of water thereinto during use of the iron.

LOUIS V. ECKSTEIN. 

